A LONG-RUNNING campaign to save a piece of Middlesbrough’s footballing heritage has reached its goal.

Work to preserve the Holgate Wall on the former Ayresome Park site - which is the last physical reminder of where the football ground, hospital and workhouse were - has started.

The wall’s future had been in doubt since Ayresome Park was demolished and replaced by a housing estate after the club’s move to the Riverside Stadium in 1995.

Residents, councillors and Boro fans have campaigned for the wall to be preserved for historic and security reasons.

Boro fanzine editor and resident of the housing estate Robert Nichols, has been campaigning for action since 2003.

He said: “It’s been a long drawn out process but I think it’s really good news for residents on both sides of the wall and for the people of Middlesbrough because there will be some tangible remains of the football ground and also the hospital and work house.

Its future was secured thanks to a £11,800 grant from Middlesbrough Council’s Capital Programme Small Scheme Allocation and a donation of £12,500 from builder Barratt Homes.

The work, lasting four weeks, will see the wall repaired and stabilised.

Linthorpe councillor Julia Rostron, secured the council funding last year.

She said: “Restoration of the wall will serve two purposes.

“It will preserve a historic piece of Middlesbrough’s football past with many residents having wonderful memories of old times at Ayresome Park.

“It will also help the estate remain quiet with residents seeing the wall as a barrier preventing a rat-run.”

Once completed a plaque will be mounted at the site acknowledging the wall’s significance.